Not just CPAs.
- CPAs
- Enrolled agents
- RTRPs
- Tax advisors
- Bookkeepers with tax clients
- STR-focused accountants
If you file or advise on Schedule E and short-term rentals, this is for you. We use "tax pro" throughout — the platform, the commissions, and the certification path are open to anyone who reviews returns.
Pick the model
that fits your firm.
Send your STR clients to Abode. Earn commission on every completed study. No paperwork, no overhead — just a custom referral link and a payout when they purchase.
- 15% commission per completed study (~$72/study)
- Dedicated referral dashboard
- No minimum volume requirement
- Transparent tracking + monthly payouts
Offer AI-powered cost segregation studies under your firm's name. We power the platform; your clients see your logo, your colors, and your domain. Ideal for firms with an STR-heavy book. Contact us for pricing and structure.
- Custom-branded study PDFs and Excel output
- Your domain, your client portal
- Enterprise pricing — contact us
- Dedicated onboarding and account support
Your clients want the confidence of a professional's stamp. Review the Abode study, verify it against the client's specific situation, and sign off. Bill your standard hourly rate — we give you the foundation.
- Structured review checklist provided
- Direct access to our methodology documentation
- Positioning: "reviewed and certified by [Your Firm]"
- Upsell clients on a premium advisory tier
Your client forwards you Abode.
Here's what to tell them.
Clients hear about cost seg on a podcast, a Reddit thread, or from the Airbnb host next door — then forward the link to you. These are the questions they ask, and the short answers you can paste back.
“What even is this?”
A cost segregation study reclassifies parts of a rental property (appliances, flooring, driveway, landscaping, furniture) from 27.5-year depreciation into 5, 7, or 15-year buckets. On a short-term rental that hits material participation, that front-loads a big first-year deduction.
“Is this a real IRS thing or a loophole?”
Real. The methodology follows the IRS Audit Techniques Guide for cost segregation. The "STR loophole" is shorthand for §469 — short-term rentals with ≤7-day average stays and material participation are non-passive, so the losses can offset W-2 or business income.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before?”
Historically cost seg studies started at $3,000–$8,000, which pencils on commercial buildings but not a $400K cabin. Abode's AI-assisted model runs the study for a flat $481 — which is why we didn't recommend it before and why we can now.
“How long does it take?”
The study itself is generated in minutes after the property details are entered. You'll have the PDF + XLSX deliverable before our next call. The time we spend is on the return — not waiting on an engineering firm for 3–8 weeks.
“Do you have to use it to file my return?”
Yes — the study is the substantiation document behind the depreciation schedule. I'll review it against your specific tax situation before we file. If the math doesn't hold up for your situation, we don't use it.
“What about if I bought the property years ago?”
Catch-up is possible via a §481(a) adjustment on Form 3115. We can apply accelerated depreciation to a property purchased in a prior year and take the catch-up deduction in the current year — no amended returns needed.
“Will this trigger an audit?”
No more than any other depreciation schedule. The study follows IRS ATG methodology and produces the exact substantiation an examiner would ask for. Audit defense is cleaner with the study than without it.
“What do I need to send them?”
The property address, purchase price, year placed in service, and a few photos if you have them. That's it. No floor plans, no in-person walkthroughs, no engineering site visit.
Your STR clients don't know to ask.
You can change that.
Most STR investors have never heard of cost segregation.
Unless they have a proactive tax advisor or happened to find the right Reddit thread, they're depreciating their property over 27.5 years — the default — and leaving the accelerated deduction completely on the table.
OBBBA made this more urgent than ever.
100% bonus depreciation is now permanent for property acquired after January 19, 2025. The deduction window is open. Clients who act now get the most from it. The ones who wait could lose this year's opportunity entirely.
You don't need to become a cost seg specialist.
Abode handles the technical study. You review, advise, and file. At $481, the conversation is easy to have. The alternative — referring them to an engineering firm at $8,000 — is a harder sell for a client with a $400K cabin.
The questions you're
actually asking.
How the platform works, what the deliverable looks like, and what it means for your workflow at tax time.
What do I actually get as the tax pro?+
How is Abode different from a traditional cost seg firm?+
Is this audit-defensible?+
Who's actually a fit for this?+
Can I white-label the output for my firm?+
What about Form 3115 for prior-year properties?+
Do you replace me, or work alongside me?+
How do commissions actually pay?+
Your STR clients will file either way.
The question is with what in hand.
Start with the referral program — no contracts, no minimums, five minutes to set up. Upgrade to white label or certified review when the volume's there.